By Olawale Abdul-Fatah
After the re-run of Kogi West senatorial district election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Smart Adeyemi, winner of the poll.
Adeyemi polled a total of 88,373 votes to unseat the incumbent senator, Dino Melaye of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 62,133 votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the APC candidate as winner of the keenly contested election two weeks after the people of the senatorial district went to the poll.
This came after the supplementary poll conducted by INEC following the November 16 rerun election which failed to produce a winner.
Though the poll was alleged to have been marred by violence and other electoral malpractices but INEC declared Adeyemi winner.
Reacting over the announced result, the APC national chairman, Oshiomhole congratulated Adeyemi, describing his victory at the poll as a testament of his general acceptance.
Oshiomhole said: “This victory has again affirmed the general acceptance of our great party, by the great people of Kogi State who just few weeks ago voted massively for our governorship candidate, Governor Yahaya Bello, who was re-elected for a second term.
“I have always believed in the ability of the people of Kogi West to elect leaders who will make them proud in the Senate and not the defeated Senator Melaye who is among the 16 Senators who rebelled against our party.
“As it stands today, the broom has swept away the entire 16 Senators, Dino being the last, who tried to destabilise our democracy for their personal interest, jettisoning the interest of the electorate.
“On behalf of our great party the APC, I congratulate my brother and friend, Senator Smart Adeyemi once again and we look forward toward working with you in this resolve by our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari to take the nation to the NEXT LEVEL”.
